Dear 2011, so far I am liking you. You’ve given me a gentle start of lazy days at home taking it easy, the odd venture out to the forest to chase ponies with my camera, reading Sherlock Holmes stories on my new Kindle, lots of (mostly bad) TV, and of course all the lovely choccies.

“Hey, you, wake-up, I want to take your photo!”

“That’s much better, now give me a little smile… “

A week or two in and it got a tad more challenging; back to the office with no Quality Street or naps to keep me going and I have to say – it was tough going!

So, yes. A new year – hoorah! I’ve pick a word as my mantra for 2011 – having just one word is easy to remember and a handy nagging reminder for whatever you are up to. My word this year is ACTION.

Honestly, I bore myself with the number of plans and ideas i come up with in the course of… a day. From small things like planning what to have for dinner in the evening through to big things like what I want to be when I grow up. When it comes to thinking, talking, projecting, deliberating I’m up there with the greats (honestly, if you need someone to brainstorm, gimme a call)! I am, however hopeless at getting the ball rolling. So, I am saying it now and I’m saying it loud: expect more balls to be rolled in twenty-eleven!

How about you; any resolutions or exciting plans for the year ahead?

I have a feeling that from here on in any photos I take are going to much more wintry than autumnal, so here’s a last look at the golden tones that have been so wonderful these last few weeks.

I’m refusing point-blank to get all bothered about the cold and dark – we live on a lovely little planet that happens to be a bit tilted and summer sunshine is all the more special when you have to wait patiently for it.

Every day for the last week I would check out of the window and study the weather forecast hoping that we wouldn’t suffer too much in the way of wind or rain so that we would make it to the weekend with a few leaves left to photograph in the forest.

It’s definitely geting to the end of its autumnal spendour but the forest was certainlty still putting on a show!

We found ourselves right on the edge of a cloud so that where we were stood was perfectly dry but a few metres in front of us was pouring in rain – that was strange!

Then, after the shower there was a rainbow! AND I had my camera with me. This never happens!

Hey, those trees in the distance still look quite green, maybe I will get another chance next weekend to get some more autumnal shots.

All too soon though it’s time for us to wend our way home to skies filled with bonfire smoke and shooting fireworks. Happy Saturday to you all!

Look what I found in an old coat pocket…

Polaroid Spectra + 1200 film

I was as excited as if I’d found a £5 note (but not as excited as if I’d found a £20 note – that never happens though).

Sometimes I wonder if I shouldn’t specialise in cow photography! I think that might be a niche too far though, it’s just that they’re so sweet and docile looking and they wander freely through the woods so you get to know them quite well, remember this chap?

He is still as cute as a button, he’s a bit cheeky though – I asked if he minded me taking his photo and this was the response…

Further down the road, waiting at a junction I spotted another chap, chomping away in the heather – he was much more sensible though and posed beautifully for me. Love that ginger hair!

The leaves are on the verge of being spectacular but for now I will focus my attention on these lovelies.